Bonjour, new guests from small-town India
Puneet Dhawan of Accor is brimming with ideas on ways to revive the hospitality sector
A geographical indication (GI) tag has been sought for one of the costliest mushrooms in the world that grows in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district.
Locally called Gucchi, or Morel, the mushroom, priced at over ₹20,000 a kg, is a forest produce collected by local farmers and tribals. Last June, saffron from the State had been granted a GI tag.
The GI tag application for Gucchi mushroom was filed at the Geographical Indication Registry recently by Jammu-based NGO Border World Foundation and facilitated by the Director of Agriculture, J&K.
The spongy, edible fungus that is said to have medicinal and anti-inflammatory properties is found in the temperate forests of the Doda district. The applicants hope that a GI tag will create branding and commercial interest for this rare heirloom crop, thereby helping the tribal populace dependent on it for their livelihoods.
Intellectual property (IP) lawyer Ganesh Hingmire, who initiated the application, said the idea was to protect the borders of India through the IP walls of GI tags.
District Magistrate and Development Commissioner of Doda, Sagar Doifode, said the process of filing the application had been in the works for a year. The GI recognition could help local farmers get higher prices for their efforts, he added.
Rajma beans, Gucchi mushrooms and lavender plants grow well in Doda valley due to its climate. The mushroom are collected in March after the snow melts.
The exotic wild mushrooms are used in pulaos and served during celebratory occasions such as marriages. They also find a place on the gourmet menus of high-end restaurants.
The Dum Pukht restaurant in ITC Maurya, New Delhi, offers Gucchi pulao at ₹2,500 plus taxes.
The annual production of the wild mushroom in J&K is about 45 tonnes. Although primarily obtained from the forests and pastures of Doda district, it is also found in the high altitude areas of Kupwara, Pahalgam, Shopian, Kishtwar and Poonch. A few attempts have been made to cultivate it in farms.
The mushrooms are cherished for their antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. They are also considered a rich source of protein, carbohydrates and Vitamin B.
J&K’s Principal Secretary of Agriculture Production Department, Navin Kumar Choudhary, said the GI tag will benefit local farmers trying to grow them on their farms.
Puneet Dhawan of Accor is brimming with ideas on ways to revive the hospitality sector
Citroen’s first vehicle sports a novel design and European interiors. It is also meant to be as comfortable as ...
The pandemic is only the tip of the iceberg that the country’s cash-poor airlines — both regional and national ...
The government is yet to specify the framework of its recently announced old vehicle scrappage policy
Here is a checklist that equips you to discern the market nuances
Sensex, Nifty 50 have witnessed sharp decline
The fund has consistently outperformed S&P BSE 100 TRI over one, three and five years
Returns are superior to immediate annuity plans, but SCSS can secure better rates for new investors sooner if ...
With the public looking beyond mainstream media for reports from the ground, independent digital platforms are ...
A book on Badri Narayan is a tribute — albeit a belated one — to an artist who did not enjoy the recognition ...
The country hasn’t had a quiet moment since the military seized power on February 1
The Tatmadaw sees itself as an embodiment of the nationalist soul of Myanmar. But their brand of nationalism ...
Its name is the starting point of a brand’s journey and can make a big difference in the success sweepstakes
Sober spirits are the in thing
A peek into where ad spends went last year and where they are headed tomorrow
Can Swiggy Instamart disrupt the ecommerce groceries space, currently ruled by the Amazons and Big Baskets? ...
Three years after its inception, compliance with GST procedures remains a headache for exporters, job workers ...
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives of companies are altering the prospects for wooden toys of ...
Aequs Aerospace to create space for large-scale manufacture of toys at Koppal
And it has every reason to smile. Covid-19 has triggered a consumer shift towards branded products as ...
Please Email the Editor